TIVVY ARCHIVE

Tiverton Town 1 - 0 Merthyr

The Yellows, on the back of an excellent four-one win at Hartley Wintney on the previous Saturday, produced their best defensive display so far with a one-nil win over Merthyr Town to secured their first clean sheet of the season. A River Allen penalty on sixteen minutes, awarded for hand ball against Adam Davies ensured all three points were collected, which saw them climb to second in the league.

The reward for the performance in the previous match saw an unchanged starting line-up, with Levi Landricombe named amongst the substitutes for his first squad involvement since injuring his knee in pre-season. Steve Colwell, who missed the Hartley trip through illness, was also on the bench, while the Welsh visitors, who were beaten by the now table topping Chesham United three-one last time out, made just one change as Ben Swallow replaced Tom Meecham.

Chief tormentor for the Yellows in the two matches last season Ian Traylor, he who scored five of the seven goals Merthyr put past the Yellows, was well marshalled through the majority of the evening although an early cross from the left needed to be well dealt with. And Traylor almost broke Yellow hearts late on as he flashed a shot narrowly wide of Lewis Williams's far post, not long after Williams had made an outstanding flying save to his left to keep out a Ben Swallow free kick. Meanwhile, Martyrs custodian Alex Harris made two top-drawer saves towards the end of the first half, denying Allen his second of the evening, and also keeping out Jordan Bastin's curled effort, to keep the half time deficit at just one.

Merthyr enjoyed large spells of possession as they went in search of an equaliser in the second half, but were unable to break down the resolute Yellows back line who were clearly in no mood to let their first shut out go without a fight. Only misplaced passes late on, as the Yellows found space with Merthyr pressing higher and higher, meant the lead was not further extended.

Tiverton Town: Lewis Williams, Jordan Dyer, Noah Smerdon, George Nancekivell, Michael Landricombe, Jordan Bentley, Josh Key, River Allen, Jared Lewington, Jordan Bastin, Tyler Elliott
Goal: River Allen 16p

Attendance: 468